Socket wrench



Aug. 23, 1932.

5/ 2 1/1, lym g' w w 1 1 1K gwwfiv to w EMFf/ELZ5EP Patented Aug. 23, 1932 Unit-sh s'r A TEs PATIENT oFF cs',

EDWARD M. rrensnn, or MILWAUKEE, wIsoonsIN, AssIGNoR 'ro 'rnnnm oxnewk MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or ILwAUKEnwIscoNsm socxnr WRENCH Application filed May 29, 1930. Serial No. 456,967.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in socket wrenches, and more particularly to a reversible socket wrench.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a reversible socket wrench which includes the reversible push plug structure, wherein the socket portion of the wrench can be applied to the plug and upon either side of the ratchet head. i

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel structure of the above type wherein the push plug is so fitted to the ratchet head that should the plug become broken it can be quickly and easily replaced with a new one.

In the construction of wrenches of this character, the reversible push plug is usually maintained in position by means of a pin carried by the ratchet head and operating in a 29 groove in the push plug for limiting the movement of the push plug with respect to the head and causing the same to rotate with the head. r fine of the main objections which has been found in the construction of this type of wrench, is the fact that heretofore the pin has been press-fitted through the hub of the ratchet and, therefore, when the push plug breaks oif, it is necessary to drill out the pin before a new one can be fitted in place.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a reversible socket wrench wherein the retaining pin which holds the push plug in place is fitted into the hub of the ratchet in such manner that it can be quickly and easily removed for replacement or when the push plug is broken off, a new plug can be quickly itted in place without j the necessity of refitting the ratchet hub with a new pin. 1

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wrench constructed in accordance with 7 my invention and taken on the line l1 of Figure 2;

Figure 21s asectional view on the line2' 2.

ofFigure 1, with parts in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showingthe nut socket in place. r: f

In the general construction of wrenches of this type, I have included asubstantial hollow handle portion 1,.terminatingat its upper end in the head 2 provided with opi posed openings for receiving the bearing portions 3 of the ratchet head. The ratchet head is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth t adapted to be engaged by a pivoted pawl 5, the movement of which in one direction is limited by means of a cross pin 6.

In the construction of wrenches of this type the ratchet head-is provided with a transverse substantiall rectan ular o enin y a: g c

7 in which is slidably mounted a reversible push; plug 8. This plug usually f carries spring pressed balls 9 which project beyond the outer surface of the plug forfrictiona'lly engaging the inner wall of the opening 7 and are also used for projection into a transverse opening 10, in the head 11 of the nut socket 12.? The head 11 is provided with a substan-" tially rectangular opening for receiving one end of the push plug 8, as illustrated in F igure 3. a

The structure described so far is practically the same as theusual type of socket wrenches, but in order to improve upon this type ofsocket wrench, the ratchet head is drilled transversely of. the opening 7 from one side thereof through the ratchet head to a point adjacent the other side,'thus forming a bore 13-which extends through one side of the ratchet head and aligns with a bore 14 in the other side of the ratchet head. Within the bore 14, is slidably mounted a pin 15' normally urged outwardly of the bore by means of a coil spring 16. The outer endof the other half projects to one side of the ratchet head to be engaged by the head 11 of the nut socket. When it is desired to position the nut socket on the other side of the ratchet head, the push plug 8 is moved through the ratchet head to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. x

As a general rule, the pins 15 in this type of wrench are pressrfitted into the ratchet head so that should the push plug 8 become broken off through application upon-heavy work, it is necessary to drill out these pins before the broken push plug can be replaced by a new one, However, with this structure, the push plug could be broken ofi and the broken part removed from the ratchet head anda; new. push plug quickly inserted as pin 15 can be retained in position by inserting a new plug and pushing the broken part out with one end ofthe-new plug. v

In the manufacture of wrenches of this type, ithas been found that in'order to ourtail-expense in the manufacture of the wrench and produce a wrench whereby the push plugs could be easily replaced when broken, the structuredescribedabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawing is far superior toany known at the present time, and the effectiveness of the wrench is not interfered with in any manner whatever.

The idea of drilling the opening 13 will be readily appreciated when i it is understood that in order to drill the bore 14 in'the opposite side of the ratchet head, it iseasier and far less expensive toplace the pins 15 in position in this manner than-in any other manner known at-the present time.- 1

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my'invention, it will bejapparent that slight changes may be made in the construction when putting the invention into practice without departing from the spirit of thesame or the 'scope'of the appended claim.- a

I claim:

A ratchet wrench comprising a handle,

a rotatable ratchet head carried by the handle locking members carried by the plug adjacent to the opposite ends thereof arranged at right angles to said groove, the ratchet head having a transverse bore formed therein equidistant its ends the opening dividing the bore into a shortand a long portion, the long portion of the bore opening out through oneside oftheratchet head and the short portion terminatlng short of the opposite side of the ratchet head, and a spring-pressed pin slidg ably mounted-in the shortportion of the bore EDWARD M, PFAUSER, 

